The Commitments

Details

The cult classic with more soul than ever before - The Commitments - is being released as a two-disc Special Edition DVD on 14th March 2005 from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment.

In an all-new and improved format, the film that brought Dublin into the hearts of the world is going into the homes of the world this Spring. You haven't seen The Commitments until you've seen the extras-jammed Special Edition!

Directed by Alan Parker (Evita, Fame)and based on the short story by Roddy Doyle, The Commitments tells the story from conception to stage of "the hardest working Irish band" and the story begins like this...

Fast talker Jimmy Rabbitte (Robert Arkins) wants to put the soul back into Dublin and places an ad in the local paper that simply asks Have You Got Soul? His doorstep is soon flooded with hopefuls who want to be a part of the next U2 and as he sifts through the masses he is left with one or two who may really have what it takes. But The Commitments are still without a lead singer. until Jimmy happens upon gruff voiced Deco Cuffe (Andrew Strong), singing drunkenly at a wedding while the hired band is on a break.

With Joey 'The Lips' Fagan (Johnny Murphy) on trumpet, Dean (Felim Gormley) on sax, Billy (Dick Massey) on drums and Imelda (Angeline Ball), Natalie (Maria Doyle Kennedy) and Bernie (Bronagh Gallagher) singing backup, The Commitments band is complete. Bemused, but uncertain about being an Irish soul band, Jimmy puts the group on a strict diet of James Brown and Wilson Pickett and the music quickly wins them over. Soon North Dublin is collectively stamping its feet to Mustang Sally, but fame and recognition always come with a price.

Joey has a way with the ladies; the three backup singers to be precise and Deco is lecherous to the point where Billy the drummer is ready to walk. With pressure mounting, the question is - can soul alone be enough to sustain The Commitments?